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Saints looking at La’el and Jalen Collins of LSU

Both LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins and cornerback Jalen Collins – no relation - have drawn interest from the New Orleans Saints, who have the No. 13 and No. 31 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on

Saints looking at La’el and Jalen Collins of LSU

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) leaps through an attempted tackle from LSU Tigers cornerback Jalen Collins (32) on a 56-yard rushing touchdown during the second half of an NCAA football game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Paul Kieu, The Advertiser(Photo: Paul Kieu, The Advertiser)

BATON ROUGE – Both LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins and cornerback Jalen Collins — no relation — have drawn interest from the New Orleans Saints, who have the No. 13 and No. 31 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 30.

La’el Collins is considered a top-15 pick, whereas the other Collins is considered a late first-round projection.

“Good players,” newly hired New Orleans Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland said of the Collins pair at LSU’s Pro Day on Friday. “La’el Collins is a good positive productive player. They’re both going to have a chance to be good football players in the NFL.”

The Saints are in the market for an offensive guard more than a tackle. La’el Collins is being considered by NFL teams as a right tackle and as a guard. He started 13 games at left guard for LSU as a sophomore in 2012.

“Sometimes when you don’t have one, they become a priority,” Ireland said. “Some teams will prioritize whether it’s a guard or a center or a tackle or a nickel corner. When you don’t have one that becomes a priority, and that’s when positions become musts on teams. Sometimes when you don’t have one, it can hold you hostage. If they’re good players, why not? If they’re going to help you win, if they’re going to be productive and they’re consistent and they’re good character people and they’re dependable, that’s important.”

HATCHER RETURNS

Former LSU outside linebacker Karnell Hatcher of Delray Beach, Fla., took part in LSU’s Pro Day after finishing his college career in the 2011 season when LSU won the SEC title and reached the BCS national championship game.

Sports hernia surgery slowed him down after that season. He then began working at Baton Rouge General hospital in patient transport and graduated from LSU last August. Now, he is attempting a comeback as a safety.

“I want to get some looks to refresh my name and get my name back out there,” Hatcher said. “Just to see what happens. I’ve been working and training. I never stopped training. I finally feel good, and I’m injury free.”

Hatcher, who is 6-0 and 210 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.96 seconds.

TAHJ JONES RECOVERED

Former LSU outside linebacker Tahj Jones has recovered from a gunshot wound in the abdomen last April 11 in Sulphur that required emergency surgery. He ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds.

“The bullet went through my abdomen, my stomach, my side and landed in my hip,” Jones said. “They removed the whole bullet. I feel blessed because the man above me blessed me. They said I wasn’t even supposed to make it. It was just the man above who saved my life.”

Jones is from Sulphur and finished his LSU career in the 2013 season. Former LSU player Brandon Winey, 36, was arrested on a second degree attempted murder charge, but a grand jury in Lake Charles did not indict him last January.